Photos: Lights, Arkells, The Weeknd Win at 2015 JUNO Gala Dinner and Awards

By: Staff –

Lights arrives on the red carpet at the 2015 JUNO Gala Dinner and Awards at the Hamilton Convention Centre. (Photo: CARAS)

Canada’s music elite gathered to toast 35 JUNO Award winners at the 2015 JUNO Gala Dinner & Awards presented by SiriusXM Canada tonight in Hamilton.

Hosted by Jessi Cruickshank at the Hamilton Convention Centre, the evening’s festivities featured performances by a spectacular lineup of 2015 JUNO Award nominees and winners, as well as unforgettable tributes to some of the most influential names in Canadian music.

Multiple Award winners at the Gala included alternative singer-songwriter Bahamas, who won honours for both Songwriter of the Year and Adult Alternative Album of the Year; and electro-dance sensation Kiesza, who earned Dance Recording of the Year and Video of the Year. Kiesza will also be making her JUNO Award performance debut during the Sunday night Broadcast from Hamilton’s FirstOntario Centre.

Four other JUNO Awards Broadcast performers also took home statuettes, including Hamilton’s own Arkells for Group of the Year; Magic! for Breakthrough Group of the Year; Lights for Pop Album of the Year and The Weeknd for R&B/Soul Recording of the Year.

The night’s special award winners included Rush, who received the 2015 Allan Waters Humanitarian Award (sponsored by Bell Media), and music executive Ray Danniels, who was honoured with the 2015 Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award.

Guests at the performance-packed Gala enjoyed songs by 2015 JUNO Award winner Dallas Smith, nominees Alvvays, Daniel Lanois, and Matt Andersen, as well as a special Blues Jam featuring Crystal Shawanda, JW-Jones, Steve Hill, Steve Strongman, and The Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer.

The 2015 JUNO Awards Broadcast will air Sunday, March 15 live on CTV from Hamilton’s FirstOntario Centre at 8 p.m. CT / 9 p.m. ET.

JUNO TV will be live streaming interviews backstage on Sunday night at 9 p.m. ET on http://www.junotv.ca

Allan Waters Humanitarian Award Recipient – RUSH, accepted by Geddy Lee at the 2015 JUNO Gala Dinner and Awards at the Hamilton Convention Centre. (Photo: CARAS)

Pop Album of the Year award winner Lights at the 2015 JUNO Gala Dinner and Awards at the Hamilton Convention Centre. (Photo: CARAS)

Alvvays performing at the 2015 JUNO Gala Dinner and Awards at the Hamilton Convention Centre. (Photo: CARAS)

Alternative Album of the Year winner July Talk at the 2015 JUNO Gala Dinner and Awards at the Hamilton Convention Centre. (Photo: CARAS)

Group of the Year winner Arkells at the 2015 JUNO Gala Dinner and Awards at the Hamilton Convention Centre. (Photo: CARAS)

Host Jessi Cruickshank at the 2015 JUNO Gala Dinner and Awards at the Hamilton Convention Centre. (Photo: CARAS)

Adult Alternative Album of the Year and Songwriter of the Year winner Bahamas at the 2015 JUNO Gala Dinner and Awards at the Hamilton Convention Centre. (Photo: CARAS)

July Talk presenting Video of the Year award at the 2015 JUNO Gala Dinner and Awards at the Hamilton Convention Centre. (Photo: CARAS)

Children’s Album of the Year winner Fred Penner at the 2015 JUNO Gala Dinner and Awards at the Hamilton Convention Centre. (Photo: CARAS)

Sky Bridges and Amanda Rheaume presenting Aboriginal Album of the Year at the 2015 JUNO Gala Dinner and Awards at the Hamilton Convention Centre. (Photo: CARAS)

Roots and Traditional Album of the Year: Group winner The Bros. Landreth at the 2015 JUNO Gala Dinner and Awards at the Hamilton Convention Centre. (Photo: CARAS)

Daniel Lanois performs at the 2015 JUNO Gala Dinner and Awards at the Hamilton Convention Centre. (Photo: CARAS)

World Music Album of the Year winner Quique Escamilla at the 2015 JUNO Gala Dinner and Awards at the Hamilton Convention Centre. (Photo: CARAS)

Nikki Yanofsky introduces Radio Starmaker Fund presentation at the 2015 JUNO Gala Dinner and Awards at the Hamilton Convention Centre. (Photo: CARAS)

Opening performance by Dallas Smith at the Hamilton Convention Centre. (Photo: CARAS)

Adult Alternative Album of the Year and Songwriter of the Year winner Bahamas at the 2015 JUNO Gala Dinner and Awards at the Hamilton Convention Centre. (Photo: CARAS)

Video of the Year winner Kiesza at the 2015 JUNO Gala Dinner and Awards at the Hamilton Convention Centre. (Photo: CARAS)

USS arrives on the red carpet at the 2015 JUNO Gala Dinner and Awards at the Hamilton Convention Centre. (Photo: CARAS)

Steven Page arrives on the red carpet at the 2015 JUNO Gala Dinner and Awards at the Hamilton Convention Centre. (Photo: CARAS)

Trevor Guthrie arrives on the red carpet at the 2015 JUNO Gala Dinner and Awards at the Hamilton Convention Centre. (Photo: CARAS)

Jenn Grant arrives on the red carpet at the 2015 JUNO Gala Dinner and Awards at the Hamilton Convention Centre. (Photo: CARAS)

Melanie Durrant arrives on the red carpet at the 2015 JUNO Gala Dinner and Awards at the Hamilton Convention Centre. (Photo: CARAS)

Paul Brandt arrives on the red carpet at the 2015 JUNO Gala Dinner and Awards at the Hamilton Convention Centre. (Photo: CARAS)

Naheed Nenshi, Mayor of Calgary arrives on the red carpet at the 2015 JUNO Gala Dinner and Awards at the Hamilton Convention Centre. (Photo: CARAS)

Reggae Recording of the Year winner Exco Levi at the 2015 JUNO Gala Dinner and Awards at the Hamilton Convention Centre. (Photo: CARAS)

Kira Isabella presenting Jack Richardson Producer of the Year award at the 2015 JUNO Gala Dinner and Awards at the Hamilton Convention Centre. (Photo: CARAS)

Rap Recording of the Year winner Naturally Born Strangers at the 2015 JUNO Gala Dinner and Awards at the Hamilton Convention Centre. (Photo: CARAS)

Allan Waters Humanitarian Award Recipient – RUSH, accepted by Geddy Lee at the 2015 JUNO Gala Dinner and Awards at the Hamilton Convention Centre. (Photo: CARAS)

Mother Mother presenting Blues Album of the Year at the 2015 JUNO Gala Dinner and Awards at the Hamilton Convention Centre. (Photo: CARAS)

Calgary mayor Mayor Nenshi with Geddy Lee, Allan Waters Humanitarian Award recipient at the 2015 JUNO Gala Dinner and Awards at the Hamilton Convention Centre. (Photo: CARAS)

Group of the Year winner Arkells at the 2015 JUNO Gala Dinner and Awards at the Hamilton Convention Centre. (Photo: CARAS)

Kevin Drew introducing MusiCounts presentation at the 2015 JUNO Gala Dinner and Awards at the Hamilton Convention Centre. (Photo: CARAS)

Matt Andersen performing at the 2015 JUNO Gala Dinner and Awards at the Hamilton Convention Centre. (Photo: CARAS)